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Butterfly Occurrence Database
What this map layer shows: Where nearly 800 species of butterflies are found, by county.
Background Information
Sample Map The Butterfly Occurrence Database is a collection of information about butterflies in the United States. It was compiled by the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) of the U.S. Geological Survey, which studies the numbers and distribution of plants and animals to support the management and conservation of our Nation's biological resources. As part of this effort, the NPWRC collects information on butterfly distribution using U.S. museums, State university collections, publications, private collections, and consultation with experts. Butterflies are usually identified by looking at actual specimens. The Butterfly Occurrence Database contains information on the distribution of 789 species of butterflies. The information is collected by county and is cumulative, so a positive occurrence record does not necessarily indicate that a species is currently found in a given county. Most records are from the last 30 or 40 years, with a few records that date from as early as the late 1800s. The occurrence database should be used with the database that lists the butterfly species. The data file includes both these databases. More detailed information on individual species is available from the NPWRC Butterflies of North America page. Related Links: If you download the data for Butterfly Occurrences and the included data for Butterfly Species you may also want to download the 2000 County Boundaries data. These three map layers can be used together to create a map of butterfly distribution. Download 2000 County Boundaries
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Biology

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Butterflies - Butterfly Distribution

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Butterfly Occurrence


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